Optimism For Tri-town Ambulance, Despite Some Bumps In The Road
by Doug La Rocque
Representatives from the Towns of Berlin and Petersburgh joined the Grafton Town Board at its Monday, July 27 workshop meeting, to discuss the progress of efforts by the Grafton Rescue Squad to form a paid service that would cover all three towns from 6 am to 6 pm, Monday through Friday. These are the hours which are the most difficult to assemble an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) crew.
The meeting started with Grafton Councilman Frank Lewandusky speaking about questions raised the previous Monday at the Petersburgh Town Board meeting about financing, staffing and what form of legal documents are necessary to protect both the ambulance squad and the towns. Councilman Lewandusky echoed those concerns, saying he would like to see some sort of business plan and a legal contract between the Rescue Squad and the towns, before any Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) are hired.
Rescue Squad Captain Joe Allain has previously told The Eastwick Press the plan was for the rescue squad to keep all monies generated from billing and fund raisers, because the rescue squad would also be paying all the bills. These include among others, personnel, supplies, various insurances and vehicle maintenance. Mr. Allain said at the meeting he was a little unclear why the towns needed detailed monetary figures, and indicated he had already drawn up a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the towns and the rescue squad to sign. He also said he really did not want a lawyer involved, because of his feeling they would only complicate the issue.
Those who are in favor of seeing a paid service sooner than later, cited several recent examples of delays in acquiring EMS for residents of the three towns. Berlin Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger spoke of a recent accident in his town where a victim laid on the ground for nearly 45 minutes before medical help finally arrived. Med Flight (helicopter) was also called, and he said the first EMS personnel were flight medics, driven to the scene after the helicopter had landed. Grafton Rescue Squad member Donna Baldwin had an even scarier incident to relate. She was on a call for a severe allergic reaction involving a Berlin resident, who had driven himself to Petersburgh before he could go no further. That person turned out to be her son, who she had to keep alive by herself until they were able to meet a Mohawk Ambulance with Advance Life support personnel, further down the road. She related this story with her son’s permission, who has recovered.
The Petersburgh Ambulance is currently out of service for mechanical reasons, which leaves the Grafton Rescue Squad the primary responder for Petersburgh and Berlin, with mutual aid help when needed, which is often. Captain Allain reported they had a call to Berlin earlier in the day, but they were unable to respond to because of the inability to field an EMS crew. A short while later they did respond to a traffic accident, only to be called immediately after to a very serious accident in Petersburgh that required several ambulances. All of this occurred before 6 pm, and created a scenario where there was no other ambulance available between Hoosick and Stephentown.
Councilman Lewandusky responded he heard their concerns, but that he did not feel emotions should drive the towns to forgo their responsibility to their taxpayers, which was to know how the financial picture shakes out, and have a legal contract in place. He indicated he was all in favor of the ambulance proposal, but felt it had to move forward properly.
Petersburgh Councilman Heinz Noeding spoke of the same concerns, but took it a step further, indicating a paid ambulance service was a business, which requires a detailed business plan, something akin to what might be drawn up in the boardroom of a large multi million dollar company. Asked by The Eastwick Press if he might be making an apples to oranges comparison, Councilman Noeding answered no, that the only difference between a board of directors meeting and town board was public comment. There is none in the board room.
Like Councilman Lewandusky, Mr. Noeding said he is not in opposition to the ambulance proposal, but felt the i’s had to be dotted and the t’s crossed first.
Berlin Supervisor Jaeger said his town is all in support, and that the town board has reauthorized its portion of the cost, about $61,000. He did say he feels an actual contract, most likely drawn up by an attorney, is necessary. Grafton Supervisor Ingrid Gundrum said she is 100% behind a comprehensive collection and reporting plan administered by the squad and closely monitored by an appointed board that is representative of all three towns. “I am also 100% behind an actual signed multi-year contract that ensures that all three towns are ‘both feet in’ in our commitment to providing ambulance service in the most fiscally responsible way possible to our residents for the duration of the contract term.”
The representatives of all three towns and the Grafton Rescue Squad agreed to meet again in early August. Coincidently, within minutes of the Monday night meeting being adjourned, the Grafton Rescue Squad received their fourth call of the day, this time for a motorcycle accident in Berlin.